Handicapping

Handicapper Blog

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Posted by
Ken Warkentin
on
Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:27 PM

RACE 1

1-Brick
Bazooka – Lightly-raced & talented gelding shows a close third, then tailed
off in the Escort & Sonsam Series, now we get a barn change to Team Burke
& the rail, which could spell rebound in a suspect opener

9-Lonewolf
Currier – Drops again off a huge effort & narrow loss last time, post eight
is surely more of a challenge, but he does hold a class edge

2-That Man
Of Mine – Looking at last season’s numbers it’s hard to believe he’s been a
fringe player at the C-2 level, draws well off an early miscue, chance to trip
out at a price

RACE 2

2-JL Cruze
– Simply dominated the Super Bowl Final, a round one winner when he stole a :58
half, then rallied to just miss off another moderate pace, will leave to
protect the rail again & looms as the one to knock off

4-Walk The
Walk – Big horse with a rhythmic gait who tries hard has missed 23 days after a
convincing repeat in the first leg, this Muscle Hill 4YO has a chance to step
up for the raging Chris Ryder Stable

1-Opulent
Yankee – Was able to stroll through a :57.1 half under no pressure enroute to
stealing round two, 1;51.4 performer last year no worse than second in six
starts this season, heads a strong three-ply entry for connections who won this
year

RACE 3

4-OK
Gorgeous – Sat in as the 4-5 favorite, was completely blocked & never fully
extended last out, gets another big chance to atone at this reduced level
despite the tougher post & switches to Brett Miller

3-Caviart
Luca – Just two for 17 last year, but capped off his sophomore season with a
gritty second to Journeyman here, won his qualifier with a sharp :26.1 and
draws well in a wide-open field

6-Mojito
Hanover – Finished a solid second before he found the Sonsam Series to be a bit
too tough, returns to N/W of 3 where he can be more effective

RACE 4

5-Diamond
Said – Dropped a notch & the fresh claim reeled off the mile of his life,
an eye-catching 1:51.1 with Gingras, jammed back in for the same reduced price

4-Outa My
Head – 9YO gelding repeated in style, actually lowered his mark to 1:51.3, and
has won three of four, draws favorably to maintain his form spree

9-Explodent
– twice beaten favorite & favored in his last four, used way too hard &
still held second behind Diamond Said last out, faces a similar outside post
dilemma

RACE 5

1-National
Seelster – Found room along the cones to squeeze through & sprinted home in
:26.3 to go two-for-two, lightly-raced, yet very professional colt lands the
pole with a bright future

9-Fast
Movin Train – 0 for ten, beaten favorite in his comeback here, then almost went
all the way, while barely outsprinted in :26.3, post nine now a hindrance

8-Coaster –
Set a rated pace in his Team Burke debut & wasn’t up to National Seelster,
gelding remains a serious contender despite the tougher draw

RACE 6

4-Rediscovery
– 1:50.1 performer at three rocketed his back half in :54 and sprinted in :26.1
chasing a well-rated Major Uptrend, two tighteners under him now & draws
alongside stablemate 2-Company Man

6-Rockeyed
Optimist – Crushed foes with a sizzling :25.4 in round two after a nose loss in
the first leg, raging gelding may be simply too much for these

3-Major
Uptrend – Looks to avenge his off-the-pace loss in the Escort Final with a
sweep of this series for team Burke, dangerous controlling speed from an inside
post

RACE 7

5-Ashely’s
Husband – Pulled off the classic drop n pop & mild upset with a sterling
rally off cover in a sharp 1:51, gelding stepping back up in class, yet is a
prime candidate to repeat

1-Windsong
Gorgeous – 8YO was reclaimed after repeating with a scintillating 1:49.4 career
best, moves inside & looms as the one to knock off again

10-Rock Out
– Gelding stepped up to this level after hitting the board by closing from last
into a :54.4 back half, lands outside, but capable of blasting off for position

RACE 8

2-Capozzo –
Just missed against some upper level foes in 1:49.4 two starts back, then was
caught out of position three weeks ago, however gets further class relief

1-All Fired
Up – Ships in fresh off a narrow loss at Yonkers, figures to be forwardly
placed from the rail with his tactical speed, drops further, one to fear

3-Rock Star
– Improving 5YO stepping up after hitting the board by closing from last into a
:54.4 back half, draws better, picks up The Buckeye & may be part of the
speed equation

RACE 9

3-J M Jet
Set – Flashed some sneaky late pace in his debut here after shipping south from
Woodbine, acclimated now, draws a bit better & matches up well in this
wide-open field

2-Spender
Hanover – Looking at a three for his last 35 record & no factor ninth last
out, but his rally for second before that is worth noting, plus gets class
& post relief

9-Midnight
Dylan N – Like the way he’s hit the board in all three here with consistently
strong finishes, launched very wide from far back last time, needs a similar
effort from post nine again

RACE 10

3-Hilarious
Halo - $400,000+ winner with a mark of 1:48.3 here last season, off a no-chance
mile from post ten, previous form at Freehold was solid, lands in a prime spot
to snap his drought

5-Mariner
Seelster – Kicked home in a sharp :26.3 from an impossible spot, drops to the
bottom rung, draws an ideal midpack post & long overdue

10-Urbanite
Hanover – Beaten favorite followed up a 1:52.4 blowout by setting the pace
& fading to fourth on a frigid night, look for him to get involved despite
post ten

RACE 11

1-Southwind
Serenity – Still recall her 1;50.3 romp in the slop back on 12-5, working her
way back in shape, big effort & barely outgamed by the well-timed Empress
Deo last out, part of a strong Team Burke entry

5-Witch
Dali – Catapulted off a hot pace from post ten to take the Worldly Beauty, set
a rated pace & folded as the beaten favorite last time, might revert back
to an off-the-pace strategy in her attempt to rebound

4-Empress
Deo – Goes for the Burning Point Series sweep off two straight surges &
back-to-back lifetime marks with the red-hot Brett Miller, possibly lurking at
a value price

RACE 12

8-Wiggle It
Jiggleit – Skipped the Sonsam for this series after an impressive first over
1:49.4 mile made him three-for-three, any semblance of that effort makes him tough
to go against

2-Rodeo
Romeo – Chris Ryder trainee got off to an encouraging start with a rally for
third from post ten, then disappointed as the beaten favorite, moves inside to
bounce back

1A-American
Rock – Rocknroll Hanover colt off to a great start at Woodbine this Winter,
just a head shy of winning his first three starts, chance to follow Wiggle It
Jiggleit into contention

RACE 13

6-Ilikethemtrashy
– Hopped on board last time & zipped home into a brisk :54.2 back half to
hit the ticket, now drops from chasing tougher claimers

3-Panchester
United – Have to always respect the barn change to Team Burke, landed on the
fringe from post ten last time with a :26.4, ten for 28 record last year worth
noting, yet hasn’t raced in three weeks

2-K-Lees
Shakenbake – Responded to class relief & regained his winning edge with one
of his patented rallies into a :54.4 back half, the move inside makes him an
intriguing prospect

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KenWarkentin

Ken Warkentin has been a member of the award-winning broadcast team at Meadowlands Racetrack as the Track Announcer and television commentator for 25 years. Ken has appeared on national television networks such as ESPN, called 15 editions of the $1 million Hambletonian, and worked as a member of the broadcast team for NBC Sports and CBS Sports.